Pros
The compensation and benefits of this job are incredible and certainly worth considering. A civil service job provides job security, and with Suffolk County being one of the most affluent counties in the US, the compensation is pretty good. It is also conducive to a family lifestyle. All employees ultimately respond to an elected official who demands that employees take ownership of their work. If you can do this well, you have the opportunity to really shine. The County Executive is a known fiscal conservative, and he asks very prudent and pressing questions when it comes to initiatives that influence the budget and potentially cost the taxpayers money. This provides an excellent opportunity for professional development; the experience is certainly what you make of it. The most important question to ask yourself is "What am I looking for in a job, and what are my goals?" Then compare your answers to my ratings, and see where you land.
Cons
There is very little transparency of executive and senior management decisions. Unfortunately, what happens in instances like this, conspiracy theories on decisions will prevail (which are oftentimes more damaging and demoralizing than the truth). While there is a great potential for professional development with the County, you need to be a self-starter to grow. Senior Management does not manage staff as much as they give directives. Furthermore, the old adage regarding politics is "it's not what you know, but who you know," and this holds true in Suffolk County as well. While a civil service system is in place, there are ways around the system to offer appointments/promotions to preferred candidates. This leads to an unnecessary amount of competition, and undermines the civil service system.
